Long Beach
Police Department

Media Relations
400 W. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-5273
4/20/2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release #
Subject:
HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION - 6800 BLOCK OF OBISPO AVENUE
Contact:
Media Relations Detail
(562) 570-5273
LBPDMediaRelations@longbeach.gov





On March 28, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residential housing complex in the 6800 block of Obispo Avenue to assist the Long Beach Fire Department with an assault victim, which resulted in the death of one male adult and the arrest of another.

Upon arrival officers located the victim, later identified as 46 year-old Isaac Smith of Anaheim, and began performing life-saving measures for a visible injury Smith sustained to his upper torso.  The Long Beach Fire Department arrive shortly after and transported Smith to a local hospital.

Witnesses on scene directed officers to the suspect, later identified as 25 year-old Jahquan Hardesty of Long Beach, who was still on scene and taken into custody without incident.

Through their investigation, officers collected evidence of Smith and Hardesty attending a small gathering together.  At some point during the gathering, a verbal dispute ensued, which resulted in Hardesty physically assaulting Smith.  Hardesty was booked into the Long Beach City Jail on the charge of battery with serious bodily injury until he posted $50,000 bond and was released pending arraignment.

On March 30, 2020, Victim Smith succumbed to his injuries. 

On April 3, 2020, detectives from the Violent Crimes Detail presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.  

On April 20, 2020, Hardesty was arraigned on the charge of voluntary manslaughter 192(a)PC and remained released after posting an increased bond of $100,000.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Violent Crimes Detectives Ethan Shear and Tim Redshaw at (562) 570-7250.  Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smart phone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.crimestoppers.org.